GEOPHYSICS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

Mohd Nur Asmawisham bin Alel (P.Tech.)

M46-363 | +6010-9000250 | www.asmawisham.com | info@asmawisham.com
Fellow member at Institute Noise and Vibration (IKG)
Member at Engineering Seismology and Earthquake Engineering
Research Group (eSEER)
? ?
INTRODUCTION
An Introduction to Applied And
Environmental Geophysics
WHAT IS GEOPHYSICS?
➤ Improve the quality of site characterization (higher resolution and
increased area covered)
➤ Reduce the cost of site characterization
➤ Non-expensive and non-invasive methods Provides a method to
optimally locate exploratory boreholes
➤ Cost-effective means of establishing control between boreholes
➤ Geophysical information is less discrete than information from
boreholes (and less expensive...). But does not dispense with the need
for drilling!
➤ Geophysics can often optimize drilling requirements
➤ Often use a combination of geophysical methods to remove
interpretation ambiguities
ENVIRONMENTAL/ENGINEERING GEOPHYSICS
➤ Hydrogeology
➤ Exploration of waste sites and pollutant
➤ Exploration for bulk mineral deposits (sand and gravel)
➤ Ground stability, permafrost, glaciology
➤ Archaeology
➤ Cavity detection, cable location etc
➤ Subsurface geological imaging for civil engineering
➤ Bulk modulus and shear modulus for civil engineering
➤ Alternative energy sources (eg. geothermal)
Applied Geophysics
ACQUISITION
of the Study
Decision-making leading to the selection of
geophysical and utility software
TAMAN BUKIT INDAH, JOHOR BAHRU


EXCAVATABILITY USING
GEOPHYSICAL AND GEOLOGICAL
METHOD

GEOPHYSICS
Seismic Method

Geophysical Investigation
Resistivity Method

Field Investigations
RQD

Q System

GEOLOGY
Rock Mass Classification
RMR

Rippability

Porosity

Laboratory Investigations
Velocity

GEOTECHNICS
Geotechnical Investigation
Stress Strain

Point Load

Correlation and Analysis of

Field and Laboratory Data Bore Log Analysis

Excavatability of Rock Mass

Conclusion
(Correlation of New Indices)
SEISMIC REFRACTION
Seismic Refraction theory
RESISTIVITY
Arrays in resistivity surveying
RESISTIVITY
Measurements using Wenner array
INTERPRETATION
Field Investigation
DATA INTERPRETATION Bradybrooke, 1988 and Roxborough, 1987). Although most of them suggested
different variables involved, most of them agree that material strength and
discontinuity characteristics play an important role in rippability. Although
22

rock mechanical properties play a key role in excavation, geological parameters

are more significant than varying rock properties (Thuro et al., 2002). The
influence of geology is not only relevant during the equipment selection, but

Correlation process between geophysics, geology & geotechnics parameters also

As anduring theto operations
extension
compressive
Nobel (1975) attempted
parameters
stage.velocity
the use of seismic
strength to(UCS)
produce
used. Thesethat
intended for investigations
and
systems
In most
seismic
a similar
dataofto the
velocity for
relationship
were proposed
use hydraulic
systems
assess proposed,
rippability,
are"trenchability".
the two mostThis
by Weaver
bucket excavators, such as(1975),
uniaxial
Stacey and
common
was
Kirsten
the installation
(1982),
of buriedMuftuoglu
services in (1983), Smith (1986),
new townships. Their limited et al.
Singhtrials (1987)
suggest and
that Karpuzwith
materials (1990).
seismic velocities of up to 1200 m/s should be trenchable.

Table 8.6 Rippability rating chart (after Weaver, 1975)

Table 2.4: Rippability rating chart (Weaver, 1975)

R o c k class I II III IV V

Description Very good rock Good rock Fair rock Poor rock Very poor rock

Seismic velocity > 2150 2150 -1850 1850 -1500 1500 - 1200 1200 - 450
(m/s)
Rating 26 24 20 12 5

Rock hardness Extremely hard

rock Very hard rock Hard rock Soft rock Very soft rock

Rating 10 5 2 1 0

Slightly Weathered Highly Completely

Rock weathering Unweathered weathered weathered weathered
Rating 9 7 5 3 1

Joimspacing (mm) > 3000 3000 - 1000 1000 - 300 300 - 50 < 50
R~ing 30 25 20 10 5

Slightly Continuous - Continuous - Continuous -

Joint continuity Non continuous continuous no gouge some gouge with gouge
Rating 5 5 3 0 0

Separation Gouge
Joint gouge no separation Slight separation < 1 mm < 5 mm Gouge > 5 mm

Rating 5 5 4 3 1

Strike and dip very unfavourable slightly Favourable very favourable

orientation* unfavourable unfavourable
Rating 15 13 10 5 3

Total rating 100 - 90 90 - 70** 70 - 50 50 - 25 < 25

Extremely hard Very hard

Rippability Blasting ripping and Hard ripping Easy ripping
assessment blasting ripping

Resistivity analysis
Tractor horsepower 770/385 385/270 270/180 180

Tractor kilowatts 575/290 290/200 200/135 135

Rippability Chart
Young et al, (1984) attempted to use frequency domain analysis and velocity mapping
to relate overburden removal operations to rock mass properties, in opencast mining.
Ripper has
The use of small explosive charges to evaluate ground properties Performance
been studied by Rippers
● D9R/D9T 19
Fourney and Dick (1995) who used a finite difference code. They modelled the stress

Borehole data D9R/D9T

pulse after passing through open joints and through different materials. They used
particle velocity-time traces and compared the spectra resulting after Fast Fourier
Transformations in different materials, but this did not prove a satisfactory way of
23
● Multi-discriminating
or Single Shank No. 9 Ripper
between the materials. This was achieved by plotting the logarithm of
● Estimated by Seismic
the particle Wave
velocity Velocities
against the logarithm of the displacement, normalised by the cube
root of the charge weight (Figure 8.5). The pulse width was also affected by joints.
Seismic Velocity 0 1 2 3 4
Meters Per Second × 1000

Feet Per Second × 1000 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

TOPSOIL
CLAY
GLACIAL TILL
IGNEOUS ROCKS
GRANITE
166 BASALT CIRIA C562
TRAP ROCK

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALE
SANDSTONE
SILTSTONE
CLAYSTONE
CONGLOMERATE
BRECCIA
CALICHE
LIMESTONE

METAMORPHIC ROCKS
SCHIST
SLATE
MINERALS and ORES
COAL

Seismic analysis
IRON ORE

RIPPABLE MARGINAL NON-RIPPABLE

Figure 2.7: Multi- or single shank D9 ripper estimated by seismic wave

velocities (Caterpillar, 2015)

Caterpillar Chart
Seismic method assessment has been widely used to predict ease of
excavation. Figure 2.7 describes how Caterpillar used this method since 1970

Core sample
and keeps updating the chart with introduction of their newer models
(Caterpillar, 2015). Seismic velocity depends on a number of parameters
including density, porosity, moisture content, degree of fracturing and the
weathering of the rock mass (Singh et al., 1986). Hardy and Goodrich (1992)
noted that seismic velocity can give a good indication of rippability Edition
in 45 19-77
highly
fractured rock masses with high intact strength. The velocity of seismic shock
wave depends on
PHB-Sec19-TTT-4-Rippers(pg59-82).indd 77 the density and degree of compaction of materials. This 12/12/14 9:52 AM

parameter provides an indication of average conditions along the path of

propagation. Relatively, higher wave velocities materials are more difficult to
be ripped compared to the lower ones. Generally, a rock with seismic velocity
of less than 1950 m/s is regarded as rippable, whilst a rock with 1950 – 2250
m/s is defined as marginal and rock with velocity of greater than 2550 m/s is
DATA INTERPRETATION (FINAL EXAM)
Resistivity and velocity of some common rocks and minerals**

** W. M. Telford and R. F. Sheriff, Applied Geophysics, Cambridge University Press: 1984.

 seismic velocities of up to 1200 m/s should be trenchable.

Table 8.6 Rippability rating chart (after Weaver, 1975)

Table 2.4: Rippability rating chart (Weaver, 1975)

R o c k class I II III IV V

DATA INTERPRETATION Description Very good rock Good rock Fair rock Poor rock Very poor rock

Seismic velocity > 2150 2150 -1850 1850 -1500 1500 - 1200 1200 - 450
(m/s)
Rippability rating chart (Weaver, 1975) Rating 26 24 20 12 5

Rock hardness Extremely

rock hard Very hard rock Hard rock Soft rock Very soft rock

Rating 10 5 2 1 0

Slightly Weathered Highly Completely

Rock weathering Unweathered weathered weathered weathered
Rating 9 7 5 3 1

Joimspacing (mm) > 3000 3000 - 1000 1000 - 300 300 - 50 < 50
R~ing 30 25 20 10 5

Slightly Continuous - Continuous - Continuous -

Joint continuity Non continuous continuous no gouge some gouge with gouge
Rating 5 5 3 0 0

Separation Gouge
Joint gouge no separation Slight separation < 1 mm < 5 mm Gouge > 5 mm

Rating 5 5 4 3 1

Strike and dip very unfavourable slightly Favourable very favourable

orientation* unfavourable unfavourable
Rating 15 13 10 5 3

Total rating 100 - 90 90 - 70** 70 - 50 50 - 25 < 25

Extremely hard Very hard

Rippability Blasting ripping and Hard ripping Easy ripping
assessment blasting ripping

Tractor horsepower 770/385 385/270 270/180 180

Tractor kilowatts 575/290 290/200 200/135 135

Young et al, (1984) attempted to use frequency domain analysis and velocity mapping
 Ripper Performance Rippers

DATA INTERPRETATION ● D9R/D9T 19

23
Multi- or single D9R/D9T
shank D9 ripper estimated by seismic wave velocities (Caterpillar, 2015)
● Multi- or Single Shank No. 9 Ripper
● Estimated by Seismic Wave Velocities

Seismic Velocity 0 1 2 3 4
Meters Per Second × 1000

Feet Per Second × 1000 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

TOPSOIL
CLAY
GLACIAL TILL
IGNEOUS ROCKS
GRANITE
BASALT
TRAP ROCK

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALE
SANDSTONE
SILTSTONE
CLAYSTONE
CONGLOMERATE
BRECCIA
CALICHE
LIMESTONE

METAMORPHIC ROCKS
SCHIST
SLATE
MINERALS and ORES
COAL
IRON ORE

RIPPABLE MARGINAL NON-RIPPABLE

Figure 2.7: Multi- or single shank D9 ripper estimated by seismic wave

velocities (Caterpillar, 2015)
 ANALYSIS
AND RESULTS
Previous Projects
58
SITE 1:

RESISTIVITY & SEISMIC METHOD (ULU TIRAM, JOHOR)

97 spreads (27 lines) with total length of 6200 meter

BH4 BH3
 FEES
Bill of Quantities
BILL OF QUANTITIES
MOBILIZATION/DEMOBILIZATION
➤ Mobilization/ demobilization, preparation of staff
and equipments.

SURVEY, MARKING AND SITE

PREPARATION
➤ To conduct survey and assessment on survey site
shown on drawings or as directed by engineer.
Preparations of survey lines (clearing bushes
etc), marking and topography.

RESISTIVITY/SEISMIC SURVEY
➤ To conduct 2D resistivity survey on site as shown
on the drawing (based-on amount of spreads).

PROCESSING, INTERPRETATION & REPORT

➤ Preparation and Submission of reports.
REFERENCES
Text books
THANK YOU!